Anti-fogging device for dental mirrors



May 13 1958 A. w. OHARA ANTI-FOGGING DEVICE FOR DENTAL MIRRORS FiledMarch 7, 1957 I A fomez/ ANTI-FOGGlNG DEVICE FOR DENTAL Allan W. Hara,;Kingst on, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Shirley 'OHara, Kingston,Ontario, Canada Application March 7, 1957, Serial No. 644,538

Claims. craze-=69).

This invention relates to dental mirrors.

The problem of maintaining the reflecting surface of a dental mirrorclear and free from fogging or moisture condensation when in use haslong been recognized. Various means have heretofore been proposed forsolving this problem but despite all such prior proposals, theconventional dental mirror, even though subject to much fogging when inuse, it still employed by the vast majority of dentists. Although theproblem has become accentuated in recent years due to the advent of highspeed drill-- ing with water or vapor spray cooling, no satisfactorysolution has heretofore been proposed.

It is an object of this invention to provide an antifogging device fordental mirrors which may be readily incorporated within or mounted uponthe structure of conventional dental mirrors.

To this end, the invention contemplates the provision, in a dentalmirror of conventional form, of an air distributing shield extendingabout at least a substantial portion of the periphery of the reflectingsurface of the mirror, and means for admitting a blast of air beneath acentral portion of the shield whereby the shield distributes said airsubstantially uniformly over the entire area of said reflecting surface.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dental mirror inaccordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the dental mirror,

Figure 3 is a partial side elevation, partly in section, of a dentalmirror attachment, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the attachment shown in Figure 3.

eferring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a dental mirror is shownhaving a circular frame 1 supporting a member 2 with reflecting surface2a. The frame 1 is carried by an angularly extending shank 3 on which ismounted a handle 4, all in conventional manner.

As shown, the shank 3 is connected to the frame 1 by means of anunderlying arm 5 to expose the end of the shank and the outlet 6 of anaxial bore 7 formed in the shank and extending from end to end thereof.The handle 4 is also provided with an axial bore 8 extending from end toend thereof and constituting a continuation of bore 7 in the shank.Preferably, the free end of the handle terminates in a nipple 9 to whichmay be attached to a flexible tube 10 or the like for supply of a streamof air to the bores 8 and 7.

Fixed to the lower end of the shank is an air distributing skirt orshield 11 which has a neck portion 12 extending around the lower end ofthe shank whereby the air outlet 6 discharges thereinto. The shield alsohas side walls 13 diverging outwardly from the neck and extendingpartially around and in substantial engagement with the periphery of thecircular frame 1. The side walls 13 terminate at points which lieapproximately diametrically opposite each other with respect to themirror surface 20, Thus,

- Patented May 13-, 1,958

the walls 13 embrace a substantial portion (approximately one-third toone-half) of the periphery of the frame 51. The side walls 13 extend ashort distance above the mirror surface 2a and are joined by a top wall114 which .is thus disposed in spaced relation to the mirror surface.The top wall '14 is recessed rearwardly from the ends of side walls 13and terminates in an inwardly curved lip 15 to expose substantiallytheentire reflecting surface 2a.

Preferably, lip 15 is downwardly flared towards the surface 2a in orderto direct the flow of air thereon.

The skirt 11 also has a bottom wall 16 which is jointed to the loweredges of side walls 13 and which terminates in substantial abutment withthe periphery of reflecting surface 2a. i

. The neck 12, as shown,- merges gradually into the walls 13,14 and 16.r

In use, air under pressure is admitted through the tube 10 and flowsthrough the bores 8 and 7 and into the distributing skirt 11. It will beapparent that the skirt 11, by reason of its particular structure andassociation with the reflecting surface 20, as described, willdistribute the air stream substantially uniformly over the entire extentof surface 2a. The air stream is preferably under just suflicientpressure to maintain the surface 2a clean and free of moisturecondensation.

Referring-to Figures 3 and 4, the dental mirror shown is of conventionalform with circular frame 17 carrying a reflecting member with reflectingsurface 18, shank 19, and handle 20. The attachment in accordance withthe invention comprises a tubular stem 21 having a neck 22 at one endthereof merging into an air distributing skirt 23. The skirt 23 is quitesimilar to skirt 11 and has side walls 24, top wall 25, and bottom wall26.

Means for mounting the attachment on the dental mirror comprises a clip27 having a U-shaped intermediate portion 28 fixed to stem 21 andadapted to embrace the shank 19, and a pair of flared end portions 129adapted to extend under the frame 17 and each having a jaw 30 arrangedto grip the frame 17 at spaced points.

It will be observed that, when the attachment is clipped in place on themirror, the skirt 23 will be disposed about the reflecflng surface 18 insubstantially the same manner as in the embodiment illustrated inFigures 1 and 2.

The stem 21 is slightly inclined upwardly with respect to the neck 22whereby it is somewhat spaced from the shank 19 and handle 20 whenclipped to the mirror. This permits convenient attachment of a flexibletube 31 to the free end of the stem for admission of air under pressurethereto. It will be clear that, in operation, the device shown inFigures 3 and 4 will function in the same manner as that illustrated inFigures 1 and 2.

I claim:

the frame, a shank carrying said frame, and a handle attached to saidshank, said device comprising an air distributing skirt having sidewalls engageable with and arranged to extend around a substantialportion of the periphery of said frame, a bottom wall having a free edgesubstantially engageable with a portion of the periphery of saidreflecting member, a top wall arranged for disposition above said frameand reflecting surface, and a restricted neck, and means for supplyingan air stream to said neck and the interior of said skirt.

2. An anti-fogging device for a dental mirror as defined in claim 1,wherein said side walls extend around at least one third of theperiphery of said frame, and wherein said top wall is recessed to exposesubstantially the entire area of said reflecting surface.

3. An anti-fogging device for a dental mirror having a frame, a memberhaving a reflecting surface supported attached to the shank, said devicecomprising an air distributing skirt having side walls engaging andextending around a substantial portion of the periphery of said frame, abottom Wall having a free edge in substantial engagement with aperipheral portion of said reflecting member, a top wall joining saidside walls and disposed in spaced relation above said frame andreflecting surface, anda restricted neck fixed to the end of said shank,said shank and handle having an axial bore extending therethrough andcommunicating with the interior of said skirt through said neck, andmeans for attaching a flexible air supply tube to the end of saidhandle.

4. An anti-fogging attachment for a dental mirror having a frame, amember having a reflecting surface sup ported by the frame, a shankcarrying said frame, and a handle attached to the shank said attachmentcomprising and air distributing skirt having side walls engageable withand arranged to extend around a substantial portion 2,834,109 g a H ofthe periphery of said frame, a bottom wall having a free edgesubstantially engageable with a peripheral portion of said reflectingmember, a top wall arranged for disposition above said frame andreflecting surface, a restricted neck, and a tubular stem forming acontinuation of said neck, and means, for securing said attachment tosaid mirror.

5. An anti-fogging attachment as defined in claim 4, said last-mentionedmeans comprising a clip having a U- shaped intermediate portion fixed tosaid stem and engageable with said shank, and a pair of flared endportions arranged to extend under said frame and each having a jaw forgripping engagement with said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

